Music and the arts are being cut more and more from schools. This issue is very relavent in our day and is something that is becoming more popluar. A survey, by the Center on Education Policy, found that since the passage the No Child Left Behind, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math. All that time is lost of the opportunity to be in music and art programs.
Others might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Others may say that music should be cut from school, but researchers have found that having music in school has a big effect on the way a student learns and performs in a very positive way. Keeping music programs in schools would be very benificial to a student.
I continue to track this theme because it is so interesting and so difficult to fix. You have listed some reasons why some people are against required music classes. Of those, the cost in a time of severe budget cuts is the most genuine and urgent; the others are easy to rebut. Unless you--and all of those people who agree with you--address this head on, I don't see how music programs in any school will be saved.
ReplyDeleteYour standard answer--music helps people learn other things--is seen as merely interesting research results by most school budget committees and not compelling enough to save music and cut, say, sports or history.
There are a few non-profit, pro-music organizations trying keep or restore music in public schools. You should find out what they are doing and why. These groups are action oriented. I think their work is the only way to save music in the public schools.
Music departments are quintessential to all age levels and school departments, in my opinion. In Elementary school, I beleive that all students should be exposed to music classes. Students at this age are exposed to all subjects, and are given the opportunity to decide what they like and dislike. For some students, music is their area of interest, one they wish to pursue in their futures. Therefore, music programs should no longer be cut in middle and high schools if no other programs are. It's the same thing if sports were cut, it's not fair to the students who are only in school for sports.
ReplyDeleteI like Linda's points about looking for non-profit pro-music organizations to help you find out some of the other issues. I also like Amanda's point about distributing the cuts fairly. One thing you may have to think through is the issue of privatization of schooling and even certain elements of teaching--like music. woudl it be good idea to sell music teaching to sonyt who would provide the teaching in schools for a fee added to the school cost. Students often already pay fees for taking music classes, this might be a way to bring them back in. I don't think I like it as an idea, but it is a possiblity.
ReplyDeleteI think music classes in elementary schools are very important because the kids are still at such a young age. There are so many different sounds and types of music that they have never even heard yet. They should be exposed to as much music as possible before middle school/high school. As they get older it becomes more of a choice is you want to take a music class. There are many options too like choir, band or even just a general music coarse. I think having music in schools brings out different parts of people that you have never seen before. It should be made a point to keep music teachers around so our children can benefit from it.
ReplyDeleteI was made to take a music class for one quarter of my fourth grade year. I had no idea why I was there and I had no desire to learn anything from it.
ReplyDeleteFast forward about 15 years, and now I'm a published musician on itunes with filmmakers asking me for rights to use my music. The advice of my humble music teacher from fourth grade is still a guiding light to me after all these years.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-dark-city/id413577615
I know the budget cuts have become a harsh reality to the students and doesn't seem fair. Reducing the amount of hours for music seems wrong and I feel bad for those who have a love for the arts and music and are being punished for something that they were not involved with. I know my dad was a teacher at my high school for over 30 years, and by the end of his teacher career, cuts were being made and it would really upset him. He was a teacher who genuinely loved his job and cared for his students. He was also the tennis coach for the high school and when talk went around about sports getting cut because of the budget, he was so upset, and that also angered his tennis players. Fortunately, as of now, the sports are still in tack and have not been cut yet. But I completely understand how upsettng it is to have favorite hobbies and passions being taken away and it is out of your control.
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